IS IT TIME FOR A NEW REFORMATION?
The ecological challenge is not a simple theoretical matter for many communities
in South Africa. Neither is it a matter of fanciful indulgence among those
who seek to respond to it. It is a matter of life and death.
Bishop H Mvume Dandala
The Earth-keepers conference, an ecumenical conference on Poverty and the Environment, held in
March posed the question: Is it time for a new reformation?
Faced with the enormous challenges of poverty, climate change and environmental degradation
caused by a culture of consumerism and greed, is it not time for us to re-examine our theology in
order to understand what God is saying to us?
More than 120 delegates from 9 denominations and various NGOs attended the conference hosted
by the Dutch Reformed Church, Uniting Reformed Church and the Anglican Church of Southern
Africa in Bellville and in Pinelands.
The Challenge
The conference challenged delegates to face up to the state of the world; the devastating effects of
climate change as seen in the increasing drought and famine in some areas and the increase in
destructive weather patterns such as torrential flooding in others. The World Bank predicts that in
future we might see temperature rises between 2.5 and 4 degrees.
The Earth is facing a ‘triple-whammy’:

CO2 emissions continue to rise:
Although scientists are all in agreement that current emissions must peak by 2015, the reality is that
politicians are not taking steps to do so.

Absorption of CO2:
The ‘lungs’ of the world are being destroyed. The two largest rainforests, in the Amazon and the
Congo Delta are being destroyed at the rate of one football field per second. Our ability to absorb
CO2 is shrinking rapidly.

Increased acidification:
The oceans are dying due to absorption of CO2. In the next 20 years all that might be left in the
oceans are algae and Jellyfish.
Our present economic system is destroying our world
Bishop Geoff Davies(SAFCEI)
It is not about saving the planet – the planet will survive - It is about saving humanity.
We need nothing short of a revolution
Michael O’Brian Onyeka (Greenpeace Africa)
Our theology
Next we considered our current theology and were challenged to broaden our thinking by Prof Klaus
Nurnberger (Lutheran) and Prof Ernst Conradie (DRC).
Over the years our concept of salvation – God’s vision of comprehensive well-being – has become
limited to the age to come.
‘Bad theology’ confines God’s intentions to that limited area in which I (myself) personally am most
interested, e.g. salvation of the soul and not the body, or of humans and not the whole of creation,
salvation for the world to come rather than the present world.
We have had 3 millennia of bad theology! God’s vision is comprehensive: the clan should prosper so
that the nation is saved in order to save the whole of humanity. Humanity is redeemed so that the
whole of creation may prosper. We however have limited salvation to our ‘clan’ or to just humanity.
There are 35 times as many people on this planet as when the Bible was written. Now we need an
ecological reformation – we need a Christian critique of the values and theology that have allowed
and even supported environmental degradation. It is not by chance that the industrial revolution
took place in Christian countries, for our theology fed into the belief that the world was ours to use
and if necessary abuse. We have tended to strongly emphasize the concept of mankind as ‘made in
the image of God’ which puts us on a higher level than other beings. This concept is only mentioned
once in the Old Testament and was the title for the king, as the representative of God on earth, the
channel for God’s blessings (Ps 2). Once the king failed to channel blessings to society, he was
replaced by the Messiah.
An ecological reformation of theology would challenge us to look afresh at our Christian symbols and
rituals and would call for a prophetic voice. We need to ‘do theology’ from within a cosmic
worldview.
Living out God’s values in the world of work
Three speakers show-cased inspirational ways of living out these new values in their world of work.

The University of Stellenbosch has radically reduced their rubbish and has a comprehensive
waste recycling system for the students’ canteen.

Santam as an insurance company recently collaborated in research on climate induced risks
(floods and fires) and asked how they could mitigate and manage these risks in order to build
climate and disaster-resilient communities.

Woolworths introduced their Good Business-strategy that encourages producers to care for the
environment, improve water and soil quality and encourage biodiversity. A positive result has
been a reduction in the use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, the saving of millions of
cubic meters of irrigation water, better quality produce and higher yields.
All three speakers had personally been touched in their hearts and spirits to make a difference –
this is the role of the church, to inspire our members to be agents of change in the world.
From eco-theology to action
The second day was opened with worship on Pineland’s Square looking up at Table mountain and
asking God that we ‘would work in dignity and walk in the beauty of the day’.
A Rocha, a Christian environmental organisation, reminded us of the challenge of conservation and
gave examples of Christians working around the world in this area.
A series of workshops led by people with passion and leading by example inspired and challenged us
to make a difference in the world.
 As churches we need to start with our preaching and prayer, and resources were shared
such as the ‘Season of Creation’ liturgical materials used by the Anglican Church, and Celtic
prayers. Congregations shared ideas which have worked for them.
 SAFCEI led a workshop on eco-congregations – churches can be involved on three levels –
preaching and praying about the environment, starting local eco-projects, and getting
involved in advocacy on a broader level.
 A challenging session highlighted the link between health and climate change – reduction in
meat, getting more exercise and reducing junk food are good both for the environment and
your body!
 The track on Partnership and Advocacy highlighted the importance of working alongside
others. A speaker from the City of Cape Town illustrated the process with examples of the
city partnering with local communities to care for local nature reserves. Fracking in the
Karoo can only be stopped if local groups join hands to resist. FairTrade told an encouraging
story of trading justly with producers.
 The youth track showcased a project called ‘Swop shop’ that involves young people and
children from poor communities in recycling. Wessa led a session for the youth which
challenged them to be leaders in changing their life-style and influencing others for change.
 The Sustainable community development track addressed the following: Reducing our
domestic ecologic footprint, ecological impact of poverty on Africa and ‘Farming God’s Way’.
Living memory
As a living memory all delegates received a young tree to nurture, plant and care for. At St Stephen’s
Anglican church a Milkwood tree was planted by the oldest delegate, Rev David Botha snr.
“The links between economic growth, transformation, poverty alleviation, the environment and
climate change can either form a vicious or a virtuous circle”. Simon Susman
The body of Christ
A highlight of the conference was the partnership between churches. On the Sunday an Anglican
bishop preached at the Dutch Reformed Church, a URC minister at the Anglican Church, a Lutheran
at the Presbyterian Church and a DRC minister at the Methodist Church.
Although the numbers were not as high as we had hoped for, a wonderful partnership has been
formed and we are looking forward to the churches coming together to grow this environmental
work into the future.
Live simply so that others may simply live
Mahatma Gandhi
Outcomes of the conference
The conference highlighted:

The impact of climate change due to CO2 emissions on natural resources, agriculture, health
and human wellbeing as well as the inability to reverse the trends. Politicians are not taking
the necessary steps and nature (for instance rain forests and the ocean) cannot absorb CO2
fast enough.

The fact that theology can be bad when it legitimizes spiritual, individual or collective
selfishness rather than the purposes of God for his creation as a whole.

That Christians should learn to look at the world through God’s eyes: with compassion,
mercy and therefore with justice. This implies caring for the whole creation – environment
as well.

In the world of work and in civil society there are examples of positive actions that can be
seen as best practice models. These however are the exception and not yet the rule.

Speakers repeatedly stressed the important role the church can play in addressing the
environmental challenges

The fact that the church is not yet ecologically sensitive was illustrated by the lack of interest
and limited attendance by church delegates.
We call on the church:

To rediscover and recognize its Biblical calling to care for creation and to be a healing
community.

To find ways to integrate the “green issues” into the liturgy and life of the church by
preaching and praying about the environment; by supporting and partnering with ecoprojects and being involved in advocacy on a local and national broader level.

To be aware of the church’s carbon footprint by regular auditing of the consumption of
resources such as energy and water.

To affiliate with organizations working in this field, i.e. A Rocha and SAFCEI.

To partner locally with local government, schools and civil society to address
environmental issues.

To be an advocate for environmental justice.

To encourage its members to live more responsibly. To Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.
We have a new South Africa.
Now we need new South Africans.
A good constitution will not be enough.
We need good citizenry,
transformed people in a civil society.
Dirkie Smit